NFHCA announces 2020 NFHCA Division I Regional Players of the Year

Jun 7, 2021 | 2020-2021, Division I, News

BROCKPORT, N.Y. — Five student-athletes were selected to represent their respective region as the NFHCA Division I Regional Player of the Year. Each regional award winner is now in the running for NFHCA National Player of the Year honors.

Mid-Atlantic Region

Gianna Glatz, Rutgers University, Sr., Goalkeeper (Medford, New Jersey)

  • Named to NFHCA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region, First Team
  • First-Team All-Big Ten
  • Earned a career-best goals-against-average with 1.01
  • Two-time Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Week
  • NFHCA Defensive Player of the Week on April 2, 2021

Mideast Region

Sophie Hamilton, University of Connecticut, So., Midfielder (Bruton, England)

  • Named to NFHCA Division I Mideast Region, First Team
  • BIG EAST Conference Offensive Player of the Year
  • BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player
  • First-Team All-BIG EAST
  • Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey finalist

Northeast Region

Jonna Kennedy, Boston College, Jr., Goalkeeper (Watertown, Massachusetts)

  • Named to NFHCA Division I Northeast Region, First Team
  • Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year
  • First-Team All-ACC
  • Two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Week and two-time NFHCA Defensive Player of the Week
  • Kennedy led the ACC with 6.75 saves per game and posted three shutouts this season

South Region

Erin Matson, University of North Carolina, Jr., Forward (Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania)

  • Named to NFHCA Division I South Region, First Team
  • ACC Offensive Player of the Year
  • First-Team All-ACC
  • Awarded second-consecutive Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey
  • Three-time NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week
  • This is Matson’s second South Region Player of the Year honor

West Region

Mercedes Pastor, University of Louisville, Sr., Midfielder (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

  • Named to NFHCA Division I West Region, First Team
  • First-Team All-ACC
  • Named to ACC All-Tournament Team
  • Three-time ACC Offensive Player of the Week and two-time NFHCA Offensive Player of the Week
  • This season was her career-best in goals (13), assists (6), and points (32)

The NFHCA Division I Regional Player of the Year announcement is the second in a list of postseason awards from the NFHCA. Last week the 2020 NFHCA Division I All-Region teams were announced. The Division I All-American teams, National Scholar-Athlete, and National Player of the Year will be announced during the NFHCA Awards Show sponsored by AstroTurf® streaming live on YouTube at 7:00 p.m. ET on June 15, 2021.

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.